Combination chair and table unit



June 28, 1949. M. c. IVORY 2 2,474,252

COMBINATION CHAIR AND TABLE UNIT Filed June 18, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Inventor Margaret C.|v0Ty I 3o 7 I a Attorneys June 28, 1949. M. c,IVORY COMBINATION CHAIR AND TABLE UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 18,1945 Inventor .m u M Z Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STA'lhS RATENT@FFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a combination chair and table unit, and moreparticularly to such a unit of the foldable and collapsible type.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved tableunit characterized by folding legs, and having a plurality ofcollapsible chairs normally aflixed thereto and adapted to be foldedunder the table top when not in use in order to form a relatively simpleand compact unitary assembly.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a devicewherein the chairs, when in unfolded. position, are permanently securedto the table top, and wherein means are provided whereby the relativedistance of the chairs from the table may be varied as necessary.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedmeans in association with such a device for securely holding the foldedchars legs in related assembly when the table is folded position.

Still another object of the invention is the provision. of an improvedtable and chair combination adapted for use as a card table, a dinettetable, or the like, which, when in folded position, will occupy acomparative minimum of space, and which may be readily transported fromplace to place as desired. ,4

Still another object of the inven p oision of such a unit ivhiuh Wlll besturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation,and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble andutilize.

Other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements ofparts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointedout hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein thereis shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like partsthroughout the several views:

Figure l is a bottom plan view of the device, certain of the chairsbeing shown in folded position, and certain others in extended position,and certain of the legs being correspondingly disclosed in foldedposition and the lower left hand leg being shown in extended position.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in Figure1, certain parts thereof Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view,partially in section and partially in elevation, showing a detail of ajoint construction comprising an element of the instant invention.

Having reference now to the drawings, there is generally disclosed at Ita table top, provided with a plurality of legs H, at opposite cornersthereof, each of the legs being pivotally secured as by means of pivotsl2 between spaced lugs I 3 secured to the underside of the table It]. Asbest shown in Figure 3, the brackets l3, provided with apertures l4through which the pivot pins I2 pass, comprise portions of extendingplate members I5, the inner extremity of each of which is provided withresilient clips I6, and the sides of which are upwardly turned, as atll, to provide channels within which the legs are adapted to rest whenin folded position. Aligned apertures 18 are suitably formed in the sidewalls I? of each member l5, and provide guides for the outwardly turnedextremities l9 (see Figure 1) of each leg support 20, the oppositeextremity M of which is suitably secured to the inner side of theassociated leg- I I. Suitable screws 22, or the like, pass throughassociated apertures 23 and may be utilized for holding the plates l5 inrelated assembly with the "undersideof the table.

Suitably aligned apertures in the members 29 and the lugs 3E9 permit thepassage of pivot pins 32 therethrough in such manner that the pairs oflegs may be folded inwardly beneath the seats 26.

As best shown in Figure 6, a flange 33 extends transversely betweenadjacent lugs 30 and forms a seat against which a shoulder 34 formed inthe portion 29 is adapted to abut to prevent the passage of thepivotally secured legs beyond right-angled position with respect to theseat 26.

A back member 35 is also provided for each chair and is pivotallysecured, as by means of pivots 35, to the seat 25. A suitable jointsimilar to that disclosed in connection with the legs 21 Bil-1STAVAILABLE COPY may be utilized to preclude the passage of the backmember 35 beyond a predetermined angle relative to the seat portion 26.

Means are provided for securing the chair assembly to the under surfaceof the table top, and take the form of links 31 terminating in fiattenedextending portions 38 and 38, the portions 38' being suitably pivoted bypivot pins 39 between depending lugs llliv secured to the underside. ofthe frontedge of the seat 26 at substantially the mid-point thereof.Each portion 38 is secured, as by a pivot 41, to a correspondingflatwtened portion 42 comprising the extremity of a second link 43, theinner extremity *of -'which is secured between depending Inge -M lar;means of a pivot 44'. The lugs 44 are carried by a sleeve 45 slidable=onwa'rodflfii se cured in any desired manner to the underside of thetable Ill. Suitable coil springs 3'! surround the rod 46 and abut thesleeve. 45 at opposite, extremities thereof," in order to yieldinglybias' the sleeve towards. an intermediate or, midposition upon the rod'46." As -will..be readily understoodfrom Figure '1, a chairunit and itsassociated articulated linkage Whichis attached to the'sleeve'member,45'"isyflexibly secured to the tablewhereby it,- may be "disposedin. posi-,. tionscloser to or furtherfrom the; normal position: However;in either position displaced from the normal position "one of-thesprin-g means i'l' will normally urge the linkage and the chair toitsnormal position:

Suitable spring clips 48, provided with flanges fare secured-"as byscrewsSUj-to the underside of-the table adjacent-opposite sides of thechair seat, and when the chair is folded-, serve to over lie the chairseat and'the portions ofthe back members adjacent thepivot pointsthereof to secure the assembly to the underside of the table.

Additional clamp members 5l-farea1s0 provided, and-take-the-form', as'shown' in Figured, of transverse plates- 52" apertured'; as at '53; toaccommodate-screws 54"(seeFig. '1) and upstanding armstfi fzrovided-withbends Sliforming resilient members adapted to overlie the curvedportions of adjacent --back--members 35 when-the chairsare foldedbeneath the table top.,1/-- l t I From the foregoing, the operationof-the device should how bereadilyunderstandable-r Vfhen it is desiredto utilize the same, the-legs" are unfolded' -in the position-shown inFigure 2, and all, or any desired number of the chairs extended to thepositiondisclosed in Figure-'2. The legs may be-rotated l about-theirassociated pivots to I support the chairs at the'desired heightabove ofi the ground,-'and the backs -35 may be suitably positioned, 'asindicated in Figure 2.-

Conversely, when it isdesired to fold the device for storage, the chairsmay be returnedtofolded position; and held securely in-positionby theclamps 48 and 5h As, many embodimentsmay-be -made of -thisinventiveconcept, and as-manymodifications may be made in -theembodiment--hereinbefore-- shown and described, it is to be understood that 66 allmatter-herein is- -to be -interpreted-=-merely as illustrative andnot ina limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In :a device of the character described, T a

table top, a plurality: of-legs 'pivotallysecured 7o to the undersideof-said table top,- and a plu rality ofcollapsible chairs pivotallysecured to .4 the underside of said top and adapted to fold between saidlegs, the securing means including a pair of pivotally connected links,the opposite ends of said links being secured to said chairs and saidtable top, respectively, the end of said link secured to said table topbeing mounted. on a sleeve, and a rod secured to the underside of saidtable top on which said sleeve is adapted to slide.

2. In a deviceof-the character described, a table top, a plurality oflegs pivotally secured to the underside of said table top, and aplurality of collapsible chairs pivotally secured to the underside ofsaid top and adapted to fold between said legs, the securing meansincluding a, pair of pivotally connected links, the opposite ends ofsaid:linksz beings 'secured to said chairs and said table t0p,respectively, the end of said link secured to said table top beingmounted on a sleeve, and a rod secured to the underside of said tabletop on whichsaid sleeve is adapted to slide, and spring means biasingsaid sleeve towards the midpoint of said rod.

3. In'-eombination,-a table top, a plurality of legs pivotally securedto theunderside of said table-top; a plurality of collapsible chairsadapted to "fold between said legs, means pivotally securing-said chairsto said table top including articulated linkages each pivotallyconnected at one end thereof to one of said chairs and at the other endthereof, guide members secured to said tabletop, said linkages beingpivotally connected to one of said members forslidable and-guidedmovement thereon.-

ei-Incombinatiom-a tabletop, a plurality of legs pivotally secured tothe underside of said table? top, a plurality of collapsible chairsadapted to fold-betweensaid legs means pivotally securingsaid chairstosaid table top including articulated-linkages each pivotally connectedat one end thereof to one of said chairs and at the otherendthereQfguide members secured to said table top; said linkages beingpivotally connected to one of-said- --me1nbers for slidable and guidedmovement thereon,:and'resilient means biasing 'sai'd members to anintermediate position on said guide from I movement towards either end.5. In combination, a table top,=a plurality of legs pivotally -se' 1 redto the underside of said table top, a plurality o I its ada p to :foldbetween said legs, means pivotally secu ing-said-chairs to said tabletop including articulated linkageseachpivotally connected at one endthereof to oneof said chairs and at the other end thereof, guide memberssecured .to said table top, said linkages being pivotally connected toone or said members for slidable and guided move" ment thereomand apairof coil springs on each rod, said coil springs abutting opposite ends ofeach-member MARGARET C. IVGRY.

REFERENCES: CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file"of this" patent UNITED STATES vPATENTS Number Name Date lie-18,20?Soltesz; Sept. 22, 1931 1,339,232 St;'John May 4, 1920 1,992,434Kosanek; Feb. 26, 1935

